India, Oct. 16 -- India's campaign aiming to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup came to a grinding halt as they lost to Singapore, being knocked out of the running for progressing from the third round of qualification despite there still being two games to go. It marks the low point in what has been a year or two to forget in Indian football, not able to continue the upward trend that qualifying for this tournament in 2019 and 2023 had promised.

India are currently rock bottom of their third round of qualification group, behind Hong Kong, Singapore, as well as Bangladesh. The Blue Tigers are winless in four, having only managed to draw twice, and it will be time to head back to the drawing board as far as restructuring this team is concerned....